On May 22, 2025, the National Parks Agency (NPB), together with NBTC, organized an online knowledge session on the different measurement methods for visitor management. More than 30 participants were updated on developments in this area, with the various practical examples and experiences of national parks being particularly valuable additions.
Data-driven work
Marlotte Jansen of NBTC outlined the phenomenon of data-driven work (www.datcan.nl). She emphasized the importance of first considering what you want to know as a national park. The first question is: What is your goal for visitor management? Based on that, you can determine which measurement method or combination thereof is suitable. You can find the presentation here in the knowledge base on this website.
Practical examples
A number of national parks are taking concrete steps to manage visitor flows in order to minimize disruption to nature and the environment. The visitor pressure on vulnerable nature is a reason for many parks to start with visitor management. Collected data from visitors provides insights and offers a good starting point. Based on this research data, national parks can make choices to better distribute visitors across the area. The challenge is to entice visitors to explore other areas, perhaps at other times, within the unique national parks.
Online knowledge sessions
NPB regularly organizes (online) knowledge sessions for employees of national parks and other interested parties. Would you like to receive an invitation for these? Then send an email to: info@nationaleparken.nl.